Tensioning device



Z. L. HARBIN Jan. 3, 198. 1,655,368

TENSIONING DEVICE Filed Sept. 0,1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ff'yzzrel.

Zeddz'e'Lee flarbm INVENTOR ATTE'RNEY WITNESS: m

2. L. HARBIN TENSIONING DEVICE Filed Sept. 20. 1926 Jan. 3, 1928.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fiffyare 3,

v zedd z'e/vee Harbin lNVENTOR QTTOPNEY WITNESS- Patented Jan. 3, 1928.

UNITED STATES PT N I ZEDDIE LEE HARBIN, OEEAS'I' GASTONIA, NORTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO EMANUEL FROI-IMAN, OF EAST GASTONIA,'NORTH CAROLINA.

TENSIONIN G DEVICE.

Application filed September 20, 1926. seriallNq. 136,675.

g This invention comprehends the provision of a device for tensioning thread, worsted or bobbin, irrespective of the size and shape of the latter, the thread leaving the bobbin or the like in a free and unobstructed manner.

An object of the invention resides in the provision of meansfor adjustably support- 1 ing' the tensioning device, together with means. for supporting h bob in at any desired distance from"the' vtensioning device,

the bobbin.

Another. object of importance resides in the provision of means for preventing whipping of the thread as it passes'through the device, and to assist in guiding the thread beneath the tensioning element of the device.

More specifically stated the invention embodies a channel-like member throughfwhich the thread passes as itleaves the bobbin or so that the thread canbe freely taken from I I the like, and beneath a tensioning element arranged at one end of the member susceptible of adjustment whereby the tension on the thread or the like can be regulated;

A further object of the invention" resides in the provision of a pivotally mounted weighted element normally seated in the channel-like member directly in advance. of the tensioning member, to assist in guiding the thread beneath the tensioning element, and at the same time prevent whipping of the thread as it passes through the member.

In carrying out the invention 1 also contemplate the provision of means whereby the pivoted weighted element can'be adj usted with relation to the channel-like memher so as to be properly positioned with relation, to the thread, worsted or the like with which it is used.

A still further object of the invention resides in providing the channel-like member with an opening in the bottom thereof arranged directly beneath the weighted member, so that any lint or other material that might accumulate beneath the weighted member, can readily find its way through the opening to avoid clogging or obstruct ing the channel-like member.

The nature and advantages of the invention'will be better understood when the following detail de'scriptionis readin connection with the accompanying drawings,

the invention residing in the construction,

combination and arrangement of parts as claimed. or the like as it is taken from a ball, skein In the drawings forming part of this ap- Jplication like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of the invention. i Y

FigureQ is a fragmentary view looking at the opposite side of the tensioning device.

FigureB is a fragmentary view taken at a right angle to Figure 2. i

Figure 4 is a sectional'view on line 4-4 of Figure 2. i

Figure 5 is a sectionalview on line 5 5 of Figure 3. f Referring tothe drawings in detail '10 lndlcates'a base, from which rises an adjustable standard. This standard is preferably made. up of telescopic sections 11 and 12 respectively, the latter being of channellike formation to receive the section 11. The section 12 is held fixed with relation to the section 11 by means of a thumb screw 13. The tensloning device in its entirety is supported upon the standard, and will be hereinafter more fully described. 7 Also carried by the standard directly beneath the tensioning device is a clamping jaw 14 which cooperates with the section 12 of the standard, and is held in clamping relation therewith by means of athreaded element 15. While the thread to be dealt with may be taken from a ball, skein or the like, I have shown the invention used in connection with a bobbin 16, and have provided a support forthis bobbinin the nature of a shelf 17 from which rises a spindle 18 to accommodate and support the bobbin in the manner illustrated. The bobbin 16 is arranged vertically,.or in parallelism with the standard above described, while the shelf 17 is. capable of sliding movement through an opening in the base 10, whereby the bobbin can be adjusted laterally with relation to the standard as the occasion may require. 'Thechannel-hke memberincludes a front wall 19, a rear wall 20, the latter rising a considerable distance above the upper edge "of the front wall 19, and one end wall 21.

Projecting rearwardly from the wall 20 is a flange 22" which is recessed orcut away for a portion of its length asat 23, and slidably mounted in this cut away portion is an extension 24projecting'from one edge of the Inc.

thread engaging element 25, which constitutes the other end wall of the channel-like member 18. This tensioning element 25 is adapted to be adjusted with relation to the bottom of the channel-like member, to prevent whipping of the thread or the like passing through said member. For this purpose I make use of an adjusting screw 26 upon which the extension 24 is adapted to slide incident to the rotation of said screw 26, while a coil spring 27 is positioned between the extension at and the bottom of the channel-like member to exert a pressure on said extension and thereby assist in ad justing the element 25. The end wall 21 is provided with a thread receiving slot 28, and the thread enters this slot as it leaves the bobbin in the manner illustrated inFigure 1. The thread passes along the bottom of the channel-like member and beneath the Y adjustable spring pressed tensioning element 25, which prevents whipping of the thread as will be readily understood. The thread enters the channel-like member 18 in a free and unobstructed manner, that is to say that the thread is free to be drawn from the bobbin or the likeifrom which it is taken.

In order-to tension the thread while it is passing through the device, I provide a weighted hammer-like member 29 which has one side beveled as at 30 and its lower edge rounded as at 31. Arran ed transversely of the bottom of the channel-like member is a flange 32, and thishammer-like member operates in the compartment defined by this flange and the element 25, which structure is clearly illustrated in Figure 5. The flange 32 is further provided with a thread receiving slot 38 arranged in aline with the slot 28 in the end wall 21. The hammer-like member 29 is supported on one end of an angular-shaped rod as which is pivotally mounted on the rear wall 20 of the channellike member 18, one end oi? the rod being extended through an opening in the wall in a manner whereby the rod is mounted for pivotal movement. Connected in any suitable manner with the pivoted end of the rod 34:, andarranged at the opposite side of the wall 20, from that occupied by the rod 34: is an arm 85 which terminates in an offset end portion 36 which supports a bar 37 arranged beneath and substantially parallel with the arm 35, and which bar supports a sliding weight 38 which can be held fixed in any given position upon the bar by means of a thumb nut 39. By reason of this construction, the rod 341-, arm 35 and bar 37 are all mounted for pivotal movement as a unit upon the rear wall 20 of the channel-like member. and manifestly by adjusting the weight 38 along the bar 37, the tension exerted by the hammer-like member 29 upon the thread as it passes through the channellike member can be conveniently regulated depending of course upon the character of the thread, worsted or the like being dealt with.

Upon an inspection of Figure 5 it will be noted that the lower edge of the hammer is otherwise tendto clog the passage therethroug'h.

While it is believed that from the foregoing description, the nature and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent, I desire to have it understood, that I do not limit myself to what is herein shown and described and that such changes may be re sorted to when desired as fall within the scope of what is claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A. device of the character described comprising a base, a standard rising therefrom, a channel-like member supported on' said standard, and an adjustable thread tensioning element associated with said member and beneath which the thread passes for the purpose specified.

2. A device of the character described comprising a base, a standard rising therefrom, a channel-like thread receiving member supported on the standard, a bobbin support slidably associated with the base, and an adjustable spring pressed thread engaging element associatedwith said member and beneath which the thread is adapted to pass for the purpose specified.

3. A device of the character described comprising a channel-like thread receiving member, an adjustable spring pressed thread engaging element arranged at one end of the member and beneath which the thread is adapted to pass, and means operating within said member to tension the thread and to guide the latter beneath said element.

1. A device of the character described comprising a channel-like thread receiving member, an adjustable'thread engaging element arranged at one end of said member and beneath which the thread is adapted to be passed, andmeans operating within said member to tension the thread and to guide the latter beneath said element, and said member having an opening located directly beneath said means, through which lint or other foreign matter is adapted to pass, and thereby maintain the member free from obstructions.

5. A device of the character described comprising a channel-likethread receiving member, an adjustable spring pressed thread engaging element arranged at one end of the member and beneath which the thread is adapted to pass to prevent Whipping of, a weighted member disposed direotl in advance of said element and mounted or movement toward and away from the bottom of said member, and adapted to engage the thread to tension the latter and to guide the thread beneathsai'd element, and means for adjusting theweighted member to regulate its tension on the thread.

6. Adevice of the character described comprising a channel-like thread receiving meming in the c I In testimony 'journaled on said member, a weighted mem-' ber carried by one end of the rod and operatthe thread is adapted to pass to tension the latter and to guide the thread beneath said tensioning element, and an adjustable weight on the other end of said rod to vary orregulate the'pressureof said weighted member on the thread. a

whereof I aflix my signature. ZEDDIE LEE HARBIN.

annel-like member directly in. advance of said element, and beneath which 

